Hearing Assistant

Who We Are

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) supports Ohioans and their families through the following programs:

• Cash and Food Assistance
• Employment Services and Workforce Development
• Unemployment Insurance
• Adult Protective Services
• Child Support

Public service is an honorable way to serve the community in a hands-on dedicated way. You can make a difference in someone’s world!

Guiding Principles

• We will be a leader in customer satisfaction.
• We will have a reputation that attracts and retains talented, diverse, and dedicated employees.
• We get better at what we do every day.

Office of Legal & Acquisition Services

The Bureau of State Hearings (BSH) handles appeals from individuals who disagree with decisions made about their public benefits. We make sure every person has a chance to present their case and receive a clear, timely decision regarding their appeal.  BSH serves individuals who receive Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Ohio Works First, Child Care, Child Support, Adoption Assistance, and Prevention Retention and Contingency. Learn more about the Office by visiting the ODJFS BSH webpage.

What You Will Do

• Review and organize documents submitted by appellants and county agencies.
• Complete data entry for hearings into systems including the Ohio Benefits Worker Tracker Portal and the Hearings and Appeals Tracking System.
• Answer phone calls and emails from appellants and provide clear information or direction based on their inquiry.
• Create the initial electronic hearing file, including correctly identifying all involved parties (such as the appellant, their authorized or legal representative, and any third-party agencies).
• Use a personal computer and standard software applications to complete daily tasks and support bureau operations.

Recommended Skills

• Proficiency in using a personal computer and applicable software applications.
• Strong data entry and typing accuracy.
• Familiarity with appeals, hearings, or eligibility-related public assistance programs.
• Experience in handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Ability to manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to meet strict guidelines.
• Customer service experience, including responding to email and phone inquiries. 
• Ability to remain calm, courteous, and effective when dealing with difficult or upset individuals.

Schedule: Full-time.

Hours: Standard workdays are Monday through Friday. Hours are between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Location: Positions are headquartered at the James A Rhodes State Officer Tower - 30 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215.

Travel: Occasional travel within the state of Ohio.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

The ideal candidate, at minimum, must have the following: 

OPTION 1:

• 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in processing benefit claims under appeal.

Option 2:

• 12 mos. trg. or 12 mos. exp. in position involving research, written & oral business communications & public contact.

Option 3:

• Formal education in arithmetic which involved fractions, decimals & percentages; completion of legal secretarial training program offered by technical college or business school.

Option 4:

•  Equivalent of minimum class qualifications for employment noted above.

Tips For Your Application

When completing the different sections of this application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this job posting. We cannot give you credit for your Work Experience and Education & Certifications if you do not provide that information in your online application. Information in attached resumes or cover letters must be entered into your application in the appropriate Work Experience or Education & Certification sections to be considered.

Pay Information

These positions are in the State of Ohio’s OCSEA Pay Range Schedule, Pay Range 27. Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of that pay range (step 1, currently $22.59 per hour). These ranges provide a standardized pathway for pay increases. With continued employment, new hires move to the next step in the range after 4 months and annually thereafter. Cost of Living Adjustments increase wages in these ranges each fiscal year. The current step progression wages are in the table below.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6 

Step 7 

$22.59

$23.28

$23.65

$24.27

$24.88

$25.61

$26.54

$46,987

$48,422

$49,192

$50,482

$51,750

$53,269

 $55,203

At Hire

4 Months

16 Months

28 Months

40 Months

52 Months 

64 Months 

ADA Notice

If you require an accommodation based on a disability for any step of the selection process, please contact ada_public@jfs.ohio.gov.

Selection Priority Notice 

Current employees of ODJFS in the OCSEA union have selection rights before all other applicants. Applications from all other candidates will only be considered if an internal OCSEA applicant is not selected for this position.

Background check information

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Some positions may require drug testing and/or fingerprinting. Criminal convictions do not necessarily disqualify candidates from consideration.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.